We've taken a few educational boat trips over the years but yours was by far the best all-around experience. The highlight had to be the breadth of sea life we pulled up and investigated, interacted with and, of course, learn about."– Rockland County, NY, camp director

Sand Tiger Shark Fun Fact

Looks closely at the sand tiger sharks in the "Ocean Beyond the Sound" exhibit. Their snout and jaws are covered in tiny holes. These are receptors for the sharks' "sixth sense" – their ability to detect bioelectric fields emitted by other animals (including potential prey).

Some "Events" like animal encounters, Maritime Aquarium Presents, etc. are described on ourUPCOMING EVENTS page

Meet the Dragon

Daily through Labor Day: Noon-1 p.m. & 3-4 p.m.

Ready to go one-on-one with a real live dragon? Don’t miss the chance to hold a live bearded dragon in these special encounter opportunities with one of the stars of our special exhibit “Dragons! Real or Myth?”

A Maritime Aquarium educator will guide you in either touching the bearded dragon or – for those braver – holding the dragon on your shoulder.

Bearded dragons are one of nine species of exotic animals – all with the word dragon in their names – featured in The Maritime Aquarium’s newest exhibit, “Dragons! Real or Myth?”

The exhibit – and the "Meet the Dragon" encounters – are free with Aquarium admission.

Feeding Time! (Family program)

Sat., Aug. 22 from 8-10 a.m. SOLD OUT!

Sun., Aug. 23 from8-10 a.m.

Join The Maritime Aquarium for a family breakfast you’ll always remember! After a sumptuous buffet in the Cascade Café, your family will make the rounds as Aquarium staff feeds an amazing assortment of hungry animals. Take a turn feeding the diamondback terrapins, horseshoe crabs and rays. Get up close and personal with the harbor seals at a private feeding. Best of all, watch behind-the-scenes as the aquarists feed the big sharks in the Aquarium’s Ocean Beyond the Sound exhibit.

Cost: $45 per adult & $25 per child 12 & under; $40 & $20 for members. Children must be age 5 or older. Aquarium admission is included for all registered program participants.

Study Cruises on Long Island Sound

Starting in summer 2015 ... Be among the first to cruise out aboard the new research vessel R/V Spirit of the Sound™ as she begins her life of service with The Maritime Aquarium. Our study cruises offer memorable hands-on explorations of Long Island Sound's marine life: with a variety of animals brought up right onto the boat (May-October 2015) or to look for some of the seals & waterfowl that winter in the Sound (December 2015-April 2016).

PLEASE NOTE: The programs below may be canceled or substituted with little or no notice. Check our "Today's Events" page at MaritimeAquarium.org on your smart phone when you arrive.

Shark Dives

Offered most Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundaysat 12:15 and 2:15 p.m.

Confirmed dates: July 30

NOTE: Our Aquarium dive team is an all-volunteer crew. Dives may sometimes be cancelled with short or no notice due to availability. Where possible, they will substitute a "meet the diver" experience.

Would you jump into a tank of water filled with 6- and 7-foot sharks? Actually, it can be done – bloodlessly – because sharks aren't really the aggressive man-eaters of popular myth. Come see for yourself when The Maritime Aquarium's dive team spends some quality time among the sand tiger sharks, lemon shark and other creatures of the 110,000-gallon "Ocean Beyond the Sound" exhibit. Thanks to a cool communication link, you can even talk with the divers while they're in the exhibit with the sharks! They'll tell you that sharks should be respected ... but not feared.

Free with Aquarium admission. Please Note: the audio system that lets you hear the divers talk also carries the sounds of the divers' SCUBA respiration. Some young children may find this loud and unnatural.

See what our volunteer divers see in this video:

Marine Debris Station

11 a.m. - 3 p.m.Offered on "odd" days in July (July 1, 5, etc.) and "even" days in AugustStop by the station to learn about the serious issue of marine debris (especially plastic bags and plastic water bottles), take a pledge to do your part to use re-usable water bottles and shopping bags.

Water Quality Station

11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Offered on "even" days in July (July 2, 4, etc.) and "odd" days in AugustRain can wash excess fertilizer, dog feces and other pollutants off our lawns. But where does it all end up? Yes, in Long Island Sound. Stop by our Water Quality Station to watch this happen in a tabletop demonstration, and to learn the best place to wash your car and the best way to maintain a healthy lawn and a healthy Sound. Plus, touch a live diamondback terrapin, and purchase a soil testing kit ($1) that will give you an analysis of your lawn from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.

Toy Boat-Making Workshop

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily in July & AugustVisit the Toy Boat-Making area on weekends for a fun 20-minute boat-building project. Build and decorate a toy sailboat to take home as a special keepsake of your Maritime Aquarium visit. Cost: $5 per child (in addition to Aquarium admission).

Animal Activity Sheets

Poll of the Week

Mission: The Maritime Aquarium inspires people of all ages to appreciate and protect the Long Island Sound ecosystemand the global environment through living exhibits, marine science, and environmental education.